Sometimes it’s the little things; the drizzles, the toppings, the sprinkles that make a meal or a dessert. How about a sweet tasting ‘garnish’ which also meets your nutritional needs! In other words, is jam packed with nutrients and all you need is 1 tablespoon a day! I know, I know, the name is by no means appetizing but give WHEATGERM a chance…

WHAT IS WHEATGERM

Whatgerm is the centre of a kernell, the reproductive part, in other words the embryo of the seed. You can only imagine how nutrient dense this little element must be if its sole purpose it to bring new plant to life!

BENEFITS OF WHEATGERM

Wheatgerm is a powerhouse of nutrients! I could really dedicate this whole post to just its nutritional content but let’s be brief:

1. PROTEIN

1 Cup will provide 50% recommended amount of plant based protein!

2. VITAMIN E

1Tablespoon will provide 100% of the recommended daily intake (suggested by the FDA).This makes it the best source of Vitamin E out of any food! Vitamin E is needed for healthy nervous system, healthy skin, hair and nails, healthy reproductive system and for good muscle function. This is particularly helpful for those on very low fat diets or for people who do not like taking/using oils (such as myself).

3. MINERALS

it contains at least 10 of the main and trace minerals, including Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Zinc, Copper,…

4. VITAMIN B

5. OMEGA 3

just 1 teaspoon will take care of your daily need of Omega 3! Your body cannot produce Omega 3 itself and therefore we need to rely on outside sources. The most common source is fish or fish oil, however if you do not eat fish wheatgerm is a fantastic way to get your Omega (of course there are other plant based sources but that’s for another post)

6. FIBRE

7. FOLIC ACID

it is also one of the best sources of folic acid, an essential B vitamin which cannot be produced by the body and has to be supplied through diet. It helps repair DNA, produce red blood cells and prevent anemia, intake of which is particularly important in pregnancy.

REMOVED BY MANUFACTURERS

This part is rather tragic! I’ve seen this process when I watched a documentary about the making of ‘Cornflakes’. The manufacturers remove wheatgerm in order to prevent the final product from going rancid. Removing the germ and thus the oils contained within guarantees the product can be kept on shelves for a much longer period! Whether that’s good for consumers or more specifically for our stomachs, I let you decide! It’s sort of like sacking Carrie Bradshaw from ‘Sex and the City’ just to afford making more episodes!

Wheatgerm is also removed when the kernel is processed into white flour. This is what makes white flour nutritionally irrelevant. And that’s without even discussing the bleaching process!

HOW TO USE WHEATGERM

Wheatgerm has a slight sweet very pleasant taste and the aroma reminds me of toasted nuts. The texture is very similar to flaxmeal but much tastier in my opinion!

1. sprinkle on pancakes, parfaits, fruit, vegetable salads,

2. mix with yogurt, porridge, smoothies

3. bake breads, muffins, even cookies

4. mix with oats to make crumbles

5. use instead of breadcrumbs

Lemony Apple Cinnamon Chia Pudding sprinkled with Wheatgerm

HOW TO STORE

Best way to store wheatgerm is in an airtight container in the fridge, and should be consumed within nine months.

WHERE TO BUY

You can buy wheatgerm in any leading supermarket, here in the UK, generally next to flours in the baking section or in the cereal aisle. The cost is around £1.39. You can also order some from Amazon or Holland and Barrett but these are generally more expensive options.

SUMMARY in 5

1. inexpensive

2. natural

3. wide variety of uses

4. exceptional nutrient content

5. excellent addition if you’re not a big eater or follow a plant-based diet

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/why-you-need-wheat-germ

http://wheatgermbenefits.com/

2 Comments

Oh, wow, I had no idea it was so nutritionally potent, Petra. Before I had to go gluten-free I used to use it all the time in bread-making. Good to know. I’ll be sure to throw more of it in for my hubby in the future when I make stuff for him.

Hello Audrey, I like how you incorporated it in bread-making, I like it on my fruit and roasted veg it is super nutritious and so inexpensive, i feel a bit sorry for wheatgerm to be honest, wish it was more popular hehe. Have a great week, xxx